During the Patriotic War of 1812 Matvei Platov commanded all the Cossack regiments on the border, and then covered the retreat of the army.

For his merits by the personal Highest ordinance of October 29 (November 10), 1812, the ataman of the Donskoi army, the general from the cavalry, Matvei Ivanovich Platov, was erected, with descending posterity, to the county dignity of the Russian Empire.

During the campaign of 1812, the Cossacks under the command of Matvei Platov took about 70 thousand prisoners, seized 548 guns and 30 banners, and also repulsed a huge number of valuables stolen from Moscow.

Interesting facts

In Zhukovsky’s poem “The Singer in the camp of Russian soldiers” one of the stanzas is dedicated to Matvei Platov:

Eagle noise in the clouds,
You wince through the field with a wolf,
Fly with fear in the rear of enemies,
You bite the ears in their ears;

They only to the forest – the forest revived,
Trees sprinkle arrows;
They only to the bridge – the bridge disappeared,
Only to the villages – the villages are flourishing … “

Matvey I. Platov became the first Russian to be awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of Oxford University.

Napoleon, in recognition of the military successes of the ataman gave him a precious snuff-box. From the French Order of the Legion of Honor, Matvey Platov refused, saying: “I did not serve Napoleon and I can not serve him.”

Alexander II

The Emperor of All Russia, the Tsar of Poland and the Grand Duke of Finland

"Russia is not a state of trade and not agricultural, but a military state, and its calling to be a
storm of light."

Alexander III

The Emperor of All Russia, the Tsar of Poland and the Grand Duke of Finland

"The Russian soldier is brave, stable and patient, therefore unbeatable. Take care of the
Russian soldier, he will never fail".

Alexander Suvorov

Russian commander, Founder of the domestic military theory

"The war is over only when the last soldier is buried".

Georgy Zhukov

Soviet commander. Marshal of the Soviet Union

"Time has no power over the greatness of everything that we experienced in the war. And the
people, once experienced great trials, will continue to draw strength from the victory".